US9336521B2ActiveUtilityA1

System and method for chopping up and processing gift cards

Assignee: GIFTCODES COM LLCPriority: Feb 9, 2009Filed: Apr 23, 2015Granted: May 10, 2016
Est. expiryFeb 9, 2029(~2.6 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Jason Wolfe
G06Q 20/342G06Q 30/02G06Q 20/28G06Q 20/354G06Q 30/06G06Q 20/06G06Q 30/0207G06Q 30/0224G06Q 20/10G06K 19/06028G06Q 20/0655G07F 7/127G06Q 20/4016
77
PatentIndex Score
1
Cited by
96
References
20
Claims

Abstract

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for chopping up a gift card/code into smaller multiple gift card/codes. The system receives a request from a user to convert a closed-loop card/code having a value amount into two different closed-loop cards/codes and divides (or “chops up”) the closed-loop card/code into a first closed-loop card/code having a first value amount and a second closed-loop card/code having a second value amount, wherein the first value amount and the second value amount add up to no more than the value amount. The system offers the first closed-loop card/code and the second closed-loop card/code to one of the user and a third party.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method comprising:
 purchasing a closed loop account having a value amount; 
 creating, via a processor of a computing device, a first closed loop account and a second closed loop account; 
 transferring a first portion of the value amount from the closed loop account to the first closed loop account; 
 transferring a second portion of the value amount from the closed loop account to the second closed loop account; and 
 offering one of the first closed loop account and the second closed loop account for sale to a second user. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion and the second portion combined equal the value amount. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion and the second portion combined are smaller than the value amount. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving an additional amount of money to yield a new value amount comprising the value amount plus the additional amount of money. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , the first portion and the second portion combined are smaller than the new value amount. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 deactivating the closed loop account. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 confirming the value amount of the closed loop account prior to purchasing the closed loop account. 
 
     
     
       8. A system comprising:
 a processor; and 
 a computer-readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
 purchasing a closed loop account having a value amount; 
 creating, via a processor of a computing device, a first closed loop account and a second closed loop account; 
 transferring a first portion of the value amount from the closed loop account to the first closed loop account; 
 transferring a second portion of the value amount from the closed loop account to the second closed loop account; and 
 offering one of the first closed loop account and the second closed loop account for sale to a second user. 
 
 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the first portion and the second portion combined equal the value amount. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the first portion and the second portion combined are smaller than the value amount. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 8 , the computer-readable storage medium storing further instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations further comprising:
 receiving an additional amount of money to yield a new value amount comprising the value amount plus the additional amount of money. 
 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 11 , the first portion and the second portion combined are smaller than the new value amount. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 8 , the computer-readable storage medium storing further instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations further comprising:
 deactivating the closed loop account. 
 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 8 , the computer-readable storage medium storing further instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations further comprising:
 confirming the value amount of the closed loop account prior to purchasing the closed loop account. 
 
     
     
       15. A computer-readable storage device storing instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
 purchasing a closed loop account having a value amount; 
 creating, via a processor of a computing device, a first closed loop account and a second closed loop account; 
 transferring a first portion of the value amount from the closed loop account to the first closed loop account; 
 transferring a second portion of the value amount from the closed loop account to the second closed loop account; and 
 offering one of the first closed loop account and the second closed loop account for sale to a second user. 
 
     
     
       16. The computer-readable storage device of  claim 15 , wherein the first portion and the second portion combined equal the value amount. 
     
     
       17. The computer-readable storage device of  claim 15 , wherein the first portion and the second portion combined are smaller than the value amount. 
     
     
       18. The computer-readable storage device of  claim 15 , storing further instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations further comprising:
 receiving an additional amount of money to yield a new value amount comprising the value amount plus the additional amount of money. 
 
     
     
       19. The computer-readable storage device of  claim 15 , storing further instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations further comprising:
 deactivating the closed loop account. 
 
     
     
       20. The computer-readable storage device of  claim 15 , storing further instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations further comprising:
 confirming the value amount of the closed loop account prior to purchasing the closed loop account.

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